WASHINGTON, DC – Today, every Republican Member of the Ways and Means Committee signed a letter led by Ranking Member Dave Camp (R-MI) requesting Chairman Charlie Rangel (D-NY) schedule a committee mark-up of H.R. 2454, the Waxman-Markey "cap and trade" bill.In requesting the mark-up, Ways and Means Republicans cited clause 2(c)(2) of Rule XI of the House.  The rule provides that three… Read more

Statement by U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady (R-TX), Ranking Member of the House Ways & Means Trade Subcommittee, on the White House decision to delay action on the Panama Trade Promotion Agreement: “It’s disappointing for both the Panama agreement and the larger economic implications. The sales of  American-made products abroad account for a whopping 13 percent of America’s economy and… Read more

Washington, DC – Ways and Means Ranking Member Dave Camp (R-MI) and Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Kevin Brady (R-TX) issued the following statement today as the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on the U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement:  “I commend Chairman Baucus and Senator Grassley for holding today’s hearing.  It sends a much-needed signal to Panama that the U.S.… Read more

(Remarks as Prepared) Thank you, Chairman Levin, for calling this hearing on investment.  A hearing is exactly what we need on this topic.  There is so much mis-information out there about the investment protections in our BITs and our trade agreements.  The myths abound because the investor-state mechanism is… Read more

Washington D.C. – In a recent letter to U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, Ways & Means Republican Members expressed their opposition to the Department’s plans to mandate that state Employment Service (ES) employees administer the expanded Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for workers program.  Earlier this year, lawmakers in both chambers of Congress worked together to enact a new… Read more

Commerce: Like crocuses blooming after a harsh winter, polls suddenly show a dramatic rise in support for free trade. This bodes well for an acceleration in the direction the Obama administration is headed. Last July, the outlook was absolutely bleak for free trade. As a recession hit in 2008 and imports posted the steepest drop since 1942, the American public looked as if it were… Read more

(Remarks as Prepared) THANK YOU Regina, thank you for the kind introduction, but more importantly thank you for all your work at USTR, and since, to translate America’s trade agenda into concrete economic results for our workers and companies. I commend Steve Lamar’s leadership of WITA this year as president, appreciate the work of James Wilkinson as executive director, and extend my… Read more

Q: Higher energy prices? Yes. Q: Any goods not rise in price? Unlikely. Q: Drag on economy that reduces income and payroll receipts by 25%? Yes. Washington D.C. – The Ways & Means Committee held a hearing today on addressing price volatility in climate change legislation.  Ranking Member Dave Camp (R-MI) and Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Director Dr. Douglas Elmendorf engaged… Read more

Washington, DC – Ways and Means Ranking Member Dave Camp (R-MI) issued the following statement during today’s committee hearing addressing price volatility in climate change legislation.  The graph below shows the state-by-state analysis of annual increases in electricity costs that would occur under a 100% auction, as President Obama has called for, to meet his target carbon emission… Read more

Washington D.C. - Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Kevin Brady (R-TX) issued the following statement today upon the release of a committee analysis which shows the detrimental effects energy tax hikes would have on U.S. exports:  “If Congress moves hastily to impose risky new cap-and-trade energy taxes, America stands to lose a stunning $162 billion in export sales - a drastic 30… Read more